Electromagnetic retarded switch



Patented an. 15, 1929 9 UNITED STATES WALTER L. NOWELL, or connmeswoon, NEw'JERsnY.

) 1,699,014 PATENT Y OFFICE.

ELECTROMAGNETIC RETARDED SWITCH.

Application filed July 30,

time in which to perform its function.

The object of the invention \is to provide a deviceadapted to openone circuit at the end of a predetermined period of time after another circuit has been closed and to so design the device that the length ofsuch period of time may be regulated. Another object of the invention is to provide a device in which the elapsed time between the closing of one circuit and the breaking of another circuit is dependent upon the speed of travel of a moving body and in which this moving body is positively started upon its journey. 1

These objects, and other advantageousends which will be described hereinafter, attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in wh1ch Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly 1n section, of a time switch made in accordance with my invention, A

Figure 2 a like view showmg'the time switch in another position,

Figure 3 a plan view of the time "switch, Figure 4 a section on line 4-4 of Figure 1, Figure 5 a section online 5-5 of Figure 3, certain of the parts being shown in full.

Referring now more in detail to the draw- 1 ings, my improved switch is provided with a sup ort 27 which is made up of end members 8 and a core casing 29 connecting the members. A coil 30 is wound on casing 29 and with a core, to be later described, mounted in the casing forms an electro-magnet. A tube 31 is tiltably mounted on support 27 by providing trunnions 32 on the sides of the tube and mounting them in bearings 33 fixed to end member 28. .Trunnions 32 are disposed nearer the left end of tube 31 to cause the tube to be normally tilted by its weight to the right, when ,viewed from Figure 1. An armature 34, carried by a bracket 35 depending from tube 31, when attracted by the electro-magnet tilts the tube to the left as shown in Figure 2. The armatureis secured and adjusted 'on the bracket by a threaded rod 36 and nut 37 which are made of magnetic 1926. Serial No. 125,890.

metal. A magnetic stop 38'-is adjustably mounted on the end of rod 36 and is disposed ad acent the left open end 39 of tube 31. A

ball 40 of magnetic metal at the right end 41 of the tube will, when the tube is tilted to the left, roll toward the left end 39 and come to rest against magnetic stop 38 which will attract and hold the ball in position. To give the ball a starting movement when the tube is tilted, I preferably provide a rod 42 with a bent end 43 so that its inner face will be at an angle to the'direction of upward movement of the ball when the tube is tiltedl This bent end will force the ball down the tube. The ball upon reaching the left end 39 of the tube will engage and swin an arm 44 of a switch to cause it to open. The arm extends part way into the tube through a slot 45 into the path of the ball.

The switch includes a lever 46 fixed with a shaft 47 mounted in a bearing 48 adjustably mounted on end member 28. Arm 44 is fixed with shaft 47 and thereby swings lever 46. One end of lever 46 carries" an electrode 49 *and the other end of the lever carries an adjustable counterweight 50. This counterweight nearly balances the weight of the electrode and in this manner assists arm 44 in swinging the lever to raise the electrode.

The electrode, when closing the switch, dips into mercury 51 in a cup 52 which has a terminal 53. The mercury cup may be mounted on end members 28 of the support 27 in any suitable manner.

Bearing 48 is mountedfor up and down adjustment so that lever 46 may be adjusted to such position that its electrode 49 will be a safe circuitbreaking distance from the imercury when the switch is open. This u and down adjustment maybe brought about by pivotally mounting an extension 54 on bearing 48, on trunnionbearing 33 and adj usting the free end of extension 54 by a screw 55 threaded in bearing 33.

The degree of tilt of tube 31 is limited by a stop 56 which is engaged by armature 34, and is partly'of magnetic metal and artly of nonmagnetic metal, as shown at 5 to prevent armature34 from being magnetically held by stop 56 when coil 30 is de-energized. This v stop is adjustly mounted in core-casing 29 and is adjusted by ascrew 58 threaded in a bracket 59 secured to end member 28. Ad-

justing the stop varies the tilt of tube 31.

This varies the time which ball 40 will roll down the tilted tube to actuate arm 44 and raise the electrode 49 out of mercury 51 to break the circuit. Stop 56 also serves as a metallic core and with coil 30 forms the electro-magnet which attracts armature 34.

Rod 42 with its bent end 43 is especially adapted for use when the de cc of tilt of tube 31 is small so as to give t e ball a start when the tube is tilted. lWhen the degree of I bent out of position or broken.

It will be understood that In time retard-- I ing switch is disposed in and esigned to be whenthe elevator is moving and open when actuated by an elevator circuit which is closed the elevator is at rest.

The operation is as follows: When the elevator circuit is closed theelectro-magnet is energized. It attracts armature 34 and keeps tube 31 tilted to the left. 'Ball 4Q will be at the left end of the tube resting upon arm 44 and its weight will hold the arm down and consequently hold electrode 49 out of the mercury in cup 52 and the retarding switch will be idle. I a When the elevator stops and the elevator circuit is broken,'the electro-magnet is deenergized and armature 34 released. Tube 31 then tilts to the right by gravity, ball rolls downward until it contacts with arm 42, arm 44 swings upward and, being fixed to the shaft 47 swings the heel end of lever 46 upward and the electrode 49, carried b other end of the'lever, downward an into the mercury, thereby closing the switch.

' When the elevator isstarted' and the eleva- ,tor. circuit closed, the electro-magnet 1s agaln energized and the operation is reversed' While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set' forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make suchchanges and alter- .ations as falrly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I- claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

tending 1. A device of the character described including a sup ort'; an electro-magnet on the support; a tu e pivoted on the support; an

armature carried by the tube and adapted to beattracted b the magnet to tilt the tube; a switchon t e support havin a part exinto the tube when tilted, means adapted to travel down the tilted tube to en- T gage and move said part and open the switch,

and a fixed member adapted to abut said means when the tube is tilted.

2. A device of the character eluding a support; an electro-magnet on the support; a tube pivoted on the support; an armature carried by the tube and adapted to described in- I .be attracted by the magnet to tilt the tube; a

' switch including a movable electrode; means including an arm connected with the electrode and extending into the tube when tilted, means adapted to travel in the tube when tilted and engage the arm to move the electrode and open the switch, and a fixed member adapted to abut said means when the tube is tilted.

3. A device of the character described including a support; an electro-magneton the support; a tube pivotedonthe support; an armature carried by the tubeand adapted to be attracted by the magnet to tilt the tube; a

switch including a swingable electrode;

means including an arm fixed with the electrode extending into the tube, and a ball adapted to travel'down the tilted tube to engage and move the arm and swing the electrode to open the switch, and a fixed member adapited to abut the ball when the tube is ti te v 4. A device of the character described ini eluding a support; an electro-magnet on the support; a tube pivoted on the support; an

armature carriedby the tube and adapted to be attracted by the magnet to tilt-'the-tube; a mercurycontaining cup; a lever; an electrode carried by the lever and adapted to dip into the mercury in the cup; an arm connected with said lever and extending 'into th the tube,-and a ball adapted to travel down the tilted tube to engage and move the arm and swing the electrode from the cup.

5. A device of the character described-in:

eluding a support; an electro-magnet on the support; a tube plvoted on the support; an

armature carried by the tube and adapted to,"-

be attracted by the magnet to tilt the tube;

a mercury containing -cup; a lever; an electrode carried b one end of the lever and.

adapted to dip into the mercury in the'cup; a counter-.weight'on the other end ,of the lever; an arm fixed with the lever/and extending into the tube, and a ball adapted to travel down the tilted tube to engage and move the-arm thecup. f I 6. A device of the character described ineluding a support; an electro-magnet on the support; a tube pivoted on the support; an'

armature carried by the tube and adapted to be attracted by 'the magnet to tilt the tube; a bearing adJustablv mounted on the support;

a lever mounted in the b'earingpa mercurycontaining cup; an electrode carried by the and swing the electrode from lever and adapted to dip into the mercury in the cup; an arm fixed with the lever and extending into the tube when tilted, .anda

ball adapted to travel down the tilted tube to engage and move the arm and raise the electrode from the cup.

7. A device of the character described including a support; an electro-magnet on the support; a tube pivoted on the support; an armature carried by the tube and adapted to be attracted by the magnet to tilt the tube; a bearing mounted for swingable adjustment on the support; a lever mounted in the bearing; a mercury containing cup; an elect-rode carried by the lever, and adapted to dip into the mercury in the cup; an arm fixed with the lever and adapted to extend into the tube when tilted, and a ball adapted to travel down the tilted tube to engage and move the arm and raise the electrode from the cup.

8. A device of the character described including a support; an electro-magnet on the support; a tube pivoted on the support; an armature carried by the tube and adapted to be attracted by the magnet to tilt the tube; an adjustable core in the magnet adaptedto be engaged by the armature to limit the tilting movement of the tube; a switchimounted on the support and having a part extending into the tube when tilted, and a ball adapted to travel down the'tilted tube to engage and move the part and open the switch."

9. A device of the character described including a support; an electro-magnet on the support; a tube pivoted on the support; an armature carried by the tube adapted to be attracted by the magnet to tilt the tube; a

magnetic stop connected with the armature and disposed at one end of the tube; a switch mounted on the support and having a part extending into the tube, and a ball adapted to travel down the tilted tube to engage and move the part and open the switch and to be attracted and held in switch opening position by the magnetic stop.

10. A device of the character described including a support; an electro-magnet on the support; a tube pivoted on the support; an armature carried by the tube and adapted to be attracted by the magnet to tilt the tube; a switch mounted on the support and having a part extending into one end of thetube; a ball adapted to roll down the tilted tube to engage and move the part and open the switch, and a fixed member having a face disposed at the other end of the tube at an angle to the direction of swinging movement of said end of the tube, whereby the ball will engage and be moved by the fixed member when the tube is tilted.

. 11. A device of the character described in- V cluding a support; an electro-magnet on the support; a, tube pivoted on the support; an armature carried by the tube and adapted to be attracted by the magnet to tilt the tube; a switch mounted on the support and having a part extending into one end of the tube; a ball adapted to roll down the tilted tube to engage and move the part and open the switch, and means at the other end of the tube adapted to engage and move the ball when the tube istilted.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WALTER L. NOWELL. 

